Doug Christie Blasts Kings’ Effort After 33-Point Home Defeat
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Sacramento, Calif. — Kings head coach Doug Christie labeled his team’s competitiveness “shameful” on Wednesday night after Sacramento fell to the Atlanta Hawks by 33 points, stretching the club’s losing streak to four games and dropping its record to 3-9.
The outburst came less than 24 hours after Christie had promised the Kings would “get it right” following a shaky start to the season. Instead, Sacramento dropped consecutive home games to the Denver Nuggets and Hawks, surrendering a 44-point deficit at one stage against Atlanta.
Christie spoke for roughly 12 minutes in his postgame media session, repeatedly questioning his players’ effort:
- Transition defense: The Hawks held a 33-8 edge in fast-break points. Christie said the numbers showed Sacramento “wasn’t getting back, wasn’t communicating, and wasn’t being physical.”
- Starting lineup struggles: He cited the plus-minus ratings of his starters — DeMar DeRozan (-31), Domantas Sabonis (-38), Russell Westbrook (-34), and Dennis Schröder (-20) — and indicated lineup changes are on the table. Christie benched the entire first unit just over two minutes into the second half.
- Lack of physicality: The coach said he was “embarrassed” by the team’s unwillingness to commit hard fouls and compared the Hawks’ aggressive style with Sacramento’s passive approach.
- Veteran leadership: Christie urged his seasoned players to set a better example for younger teammates, stressing that the current level of play is “unacceptable.”
“Put on the jersey and represent it properly,” he said, insisting Kings fans “shouldn’t be embarrassed” by the product on the court.
Sacramento will try to halt its slide later this week, though Christie indicated significant changes could come first. “There are people who will do things the right way,” he said. “They might not be as talented, but they’ll compete.”
Source: Hoops Rumors
